JP2020054251A - Granular pet food - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a pet food a smell of which is reduced thereby causing less unpleasantness felt by a person who feeds the pet.SOLUTION: A granular pet food of this invention includes granules and a powder coating that covers the granules. The powder coating includes a powdery palatability enhancing agent, and the powdery palatability enhancing agent includes soybean powders.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

  The present invention relates to granular pet food.

Pet foods mainly targeting dogs and cats are roughly classified into dry foods having a water content of about 10%, soft foods having a water content of about 15 to 35%, and wet foods having a water content of about 80%.
Among them, dry foods have advantages such as storage stability, easy feeding, and hard physical properties, which contribute to the health of teeth and jaws.

Generally, raw materials such as meat, seafood, and meals (powder obtained by compressing meat or seafood into fine pieces) are blended into pet food. Further, in order to improve the palatability of pet food, a technique of coating a palatability improver such as oil or fat or chicken extract on food grains is known.
It is known that pet food can be enhanced in pet taste by including meat-derived and fish-derived components and fats and oils. However, a peculiar smell is generated from meat- and seafood-derived components and fats and oils contained in pet foods, which may cause discomfort to humans.
Also, in recent years, the health consciousness of pet food has been increasing, and many nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber have been added to pet food. For this reason, the taste of the pet may decrease due to the smell of the nutrient.

As a method for improving the smell of pet food, generally, a flavor such as lemon oil, orange oil, lime oil, and vanillin is added to the pet food.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a pet food characterized by further adding a dairy flavor to a pet food containing an acid component and having a water content of 10 to 70% by mass.
The pet food disclosed in Patent Literature 1 in which a dairy flavor is added to a pet food containing an acid component and having a high moisture content is handled because the acid odor generated from the pet food is reduced or reduced. It is said that discomfort given to humans and pets at the time of storage, storage, feeding, feeding and the like can be eliminated or reduced.

JP-A-2003-164262

However, in the method for improving the smell of pet food by adding a fragrance (flavor) as described above and imparting a new smell, the taste of pets may be reduced because pets may like or dislike the smell. . Also, depending on the combination with other ingredients in the pet food, the smell may be more intense and the discomfort during feeding may be further increased.
In addition, when a liquid flavor is added to pet food, especially in a dry pet food, the liquid flavor impregnates the food granules of the pet food. May not be obtained.
Therefore, instead of imparting a new odor by adding the above-mentioned flavor (perfume), as a fundamental solution, a pet that reduces the odor of pet food itself and further improves the palatability of pets Food is desired.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pet food that reduces the smell of the pet food itself and reduces discomfort when feeding.

The present invention has the following aspects.
[1] A granular pet food having particles and a powder coating covering the particles, wherein the powder coating contains a powdery palatability enhancer, and the powdery palatability enhancer contains soybean powder. Granular pet food.
[2] The granular pet food according to [1], wherein the soybean powder is kinako.
[3] The powdery palatability enhancer contains a powdery palatability enhancer other than kinako, and the average particle size of the kinako is larger than the average particle size of the powdery palatability improver other than kinako. The granular pet food according to [2].
[4] The granular pet food according to [2] or [3], wherein the content of the kinako is 10% by mass or more based on the total amount of the powdery palatability enhancer.
[5] The granular pet food according to any one of [2] to [4], wherein the content of the kinako is 0.20% by mass or more based on the total amount of the granular pet food.
[6] The granular pet food according to any one of [1] to [5], further comprising an oil coating between the particles and the powder coating.
[7] When the odor component of the granular pet food is measured by solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography under the following analysis conditions, the peak area value of 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene is 100,000 or less. The granular pet food according to any one of [1] to [6].
[Analysis conditions]
<Solid phase micro extraction conditions>
Fiber: SPME fiber coated with two layers having a 50 μm-thick divinylbenzene-dispersed polydimethylsiloxane layer on the outside and a 30 μm-thick Carboxen-dispersed polydimethylsiloxane layer on the inside Extraction conditions: Preheating at 60 ° C. for 10 minutes Thereafter, extraction of volatile components at 60 ° C. for 30 minutes <gas chromatography conditions>
Column: Capillary column coated with a liquid phase made of polyethylene glycol with a thickness of 0.25 μm on the inner wall of the material, length 30 m, diameter 0.25 mm
Temperature conditions: After holding at 40 ° C. for 3 minutes, the temperature was raised to 250 ° C. at 10 ° C./min, and held at 250 ° C. for 10 minutes. Carrier gas: He gas, gas flow rate 0.9 mL / min <Mass analysis conditions>
Apparatus: Quadrupole mass spectrometer Ionization method: EI (ionization voltage 70 eV)
Scan mass: m / z (27-500)

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the pet food which reduces the smell of pet food itself, and reduces the discomfort at the time of feeding is obtained.

  As used herein, “pet” refers to an animal bred by a human. In a more narrow sense, a pet is an animal that is petted by its owner. “Pet food” refers to feed for pets. The pet food according to the present invention can be sold as “animal feed” or “animal feed”.

  In the present specification, the granular pet food means a collection of grains used as part or all of the pet food. In the present specification, particles that are not coated with a powdery palatability enhancer, oils and fats (uncoated particles) are also referred to as “food particles”.

In this specification, “preference” is an index indicating whether or not a pet prefers and eats, and is caused by texture, taste, smell, and the like.
In the present specification, "coating" of powder (powder) means that powder (powder) is applied to the surface of a particle and adheres to the surface of the particle.
In the present specification, the `` coating '' of the liquid means that the liquid is applied to the surface of the particles and adheres to the surface of the particles, and even if some or all of the applied liquid soaks into the particles. Including. For example, the term “coating” of fats and oils means that fats and oils are applied to the surface of the grains and adhere to the grains, and a case where some or all of the applied fats and oils are impregnated (impregnated) into the grains. Including.

(Granular pet food)
The pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention is a granular pet food having particles and a powder coating covering the particles, wherein the powder coating contains a powdery palatability enhancer, and the powdery taste is added. The property enhancer is a pet food containing soybean powder.
The pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention has a powder coating, and since the powder coating contains soybean powder, the odor diffusion of the pet food itself is reduced, and discomfort during feeding is reduced. You can do it. In addition, since a new odor is not imparted like a fragrance, it is possible to avoid a person or a pet's dislike by the odor.

The particles constituting the granular pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention are preferably expanded particles. The expanded particles are particles obtained by forming the raw material mixture into granules, and are particles obtained through a puffing step of foaming inside the raw material mixture. The expansion step refers to a step of generating gas inside the raw material mixture by a technique such as heating, fermentation, chemical reaction, or reduced pressure. In the expansion process, the volume of the raw material mixture increases due to generation of gas, and the raw material mixture becomes porous. As the volume of the raw material mixture increases, the bulk density decreases. The raw material mixture is formed into granules before, after, or simultaneously with the expansion step to obtain expanded particles.
On the other hand, non-expanded particles are particles produced without going through an expansion step.

  The water content of the pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention is preferably 3.0 to 14% by mass, more preferably 5.0 to 13% by mass, and still more preferably 8.0 to 12% by mass. When the water content is within the above range, sufficient palatability is obtained.

In the present specification, the value of the water content is a value obtained by a normal pressure heating drying method.
In the normal pressure heating drying method, an object to be measured is pulverized in a pulverizer so as to pass through a 1-mm sieve, and this is used as an analysis sample. 2 to 5 g of the analysis sample is accurately measured and placed in an aluminum weighing dish. After drying the analysis sample at 2 ° C. for 2 hours and allowing it to cool in a desiccator, the weight of the analysis sample is accurately measured, and the water content is determined from the difference in weight between the analysis sample before and after drying.
More specifically, an object to be measured is pulverized by a pulverizer so as to pass through a 1 mm sieve, and this is used as an analysis sample. The mass (W1 gram) of the aluminum weighing can is measured in advance as a constant weight value. An analysis sample is put in this aluminum weighing can and the mass (W2 grams) is weighed. Next, the analysis sample is dried at 135 ° C. for 2 hours using a forced circulation hot air dryer. After the analytical sample is allowed to cool in a dry atmosphere (in a silica gel desiccator), the mass (W3 grams) is weighed. From the obtained masses, the water content of the analytical sample is determined using the following equation.
Water content of analysis sample (unit: mass%) = (W2−W3) ÷ (W2−W1) × 100
The moisture content is a value measured immediately after the final product is opened within 30 days from the production date, or a value measured under the same conditions.

  Hereinafter, each component contained in the granular pet food according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

<Grain>
As the raw material of the particles constituting the granular pet food according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a known powder raw material or liquid raw material in the production of pet food can be used.
Specific examples of powdery raw materials include cereals (corn, wheat, rice, barley, oats, rye, etc.), beans (round soybeans, etc.), starches (wheat starch, corn starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca starch). , Sweet potato starch, sago starch, etc.), vegetable proteins (corn gluten meal, defatted soybeans, soy protein, etc.), meats (chicken, beef, pork, venison, meal (chicken meal, pork meal, beef meal, etc.) Meals), seafood (fish meat, meal (fishmeal, etc.)), vegetables, additives (vitamin, mineral, amino acid, flavor raw material, fiber, coloring agent, powdery palatability improver, etc.). .
Meal means a powder obtained by compressing meat or seafood and pulverizing it.
More specifically, examples of the powdery palatability improver include animal raw material extracts, plant raw material extracts, yeast extracts, and dried yeast products.
Specific examples of the liquid raw material include water, oils and fats, liquid sugar, liquid palatability improvers, fragrances, coloring agents, and the like.

The mixing of the raw materials is not particularly limited. It is preferable to set so as to satisfy the nutritional composition of the food grain to be obtained and to obtain good moldability.
Examples of blending of dry-type food grains (including external additives) are shown below.
(Example of dry type food granule)
10 to 70% by mass in total of cereals, beans and starch, 10 to 45% by mass in total of meat and seafood, 0 to 20% by mass of vegetable protein, 1 to 20% by mass of external additives, and the rest are other components.

The shape of the particles constituting the granular pet food according to the first embodiment of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the shape is suitable for pets to eat.
For example, any shape such as a spherical shape, an ellipsoidal shape (go stone shape), a donut shape, a pellet shape, a column shape, a polygonal column shape, a plate shape, a clover shape, a heart shape, a star shape, and a cross shape can be applied.
Further, the size of the grain may be a small grain shape in which the pet can chew with a single bite, or a large grain shape in which the pet can bite a plurality of times.
For example, as for the size of the hood particles, the shortest diameter and the longest diameter are both preferably 3 to 30 mm, more preferably both 6 to 16.5 mm, and further preferably both 7 to 12 mm.

<Powder coating>
The granular pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention has a powder coating that covers the above-mentioned particles. Further, the powder coating contains a powdery palatability enhancer, and the powdery palatability enhancer contains soybean powder.

  The palatability improver is a raw material for improving palatability of pets. Examples of the palatability improver include a powdery palatability improver and a liquid palatability improver, and the powder coating of the granular pet food according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes at least a powder palatability improver. Contains soy powder.

The soybean powder is not particularly limited as long as it can reduce the smell of the pet food itself, and examples thereof include soybean powder, okara powder, and kinako. Among them, kinako is preferred.
Kinako is a powder obtained by roasting soybeans, and any commercially available one can be used.
Kinako is preferred because it has a lower odor than other soybean powders and can improve palatability.

  Powdery palatability improvers other than soybean powder include animal raw material extracts (poultry extract (chicken extract, etc.), beef extract, pork extract, mixtures thereof, etc.), plant raw material extracts, yeast extracts (beer yeast extract, baker's yeast extract) , Tolula yeast extract) and dried yeasts (beer yeast, baker's yeast, tolula yeast, etc.).

  When the powdery palatability enhancer contains kinako as soybean powder and contains a powdery palatability enhancer other than kinako powder, the average particle size (D50) of kinako powder is a powdery palatability enhancer other than kinako. Is preferably larger than the average particle diameter (D50). When the average particle size (D50) of the kinako is larger than the average particle size (D50) of the powdery palatability enhancer other than kinako, the powdery palatability enhancer other than kinako in the powder coating is on the grain side (granular pet). (Inside the food), the kinako is more likely to be placed on the outermost layer of the granular pet food. When the kinako is present in the outermost layer of the granular pet food, the odor of the granular pet food can be further reduced, and the aroma of the kinako can be further diffused.

  The average particle diameter (D50) of the powdery palatability enhancer is the particle diameter at which 50% is accumulated when a volume cumulative distribution curve is drawn from the smaller diameter side in the particle diameter distribution of the powdery palatability enhancer. is there. For example, it can be measured by dispersing a powdery palatability improver in water or ethanol and using a laser diffraction type particle size distribution analyzer (LS13320 manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.).

  For example, when the average particle diameter (D50) of the kinako is 100 to 1000 μm, the average particle diameter (D50) of the other palatability enhancers (such as animal raw material extract) is in the range of 50 to 300 μm, and It is preferably smaller than the particle diameter (D50).

The content of the kinako is preferably 10% by mass or more, more preferably 20% by mass or more, even more preferably 30% by mass or more based on the total amount of the powdery palatability enhancer. When the content of the kinako is equal to or more than the lower limit of the preferable range with respect to the total amount of the powdery palatability improver, the odor of the pet food can be further reduced.
Furthermore, the content of the kinako is preferably 70% by mass or less, more preferably 60% by mass or less, even more preferably 55% by mass or less, based on the total amount of the powdery palatability enhancer. . When the content of the kinako is not more than the upper limit of the above-mentioned preferable range with respect to the total amount of the powdery palatability improver, the odor of the pet food can be further reduced, and the palatability is not reduced.

The content of the kinako is preferably 0.20% by mass or more, more preferably 0.30% by mass or more, and preferably 0.50% by mass or more based on the total amount of the granular pet food. Is more preferred. If the content of the kinako is at least the lower limit of the above-mentioned preferable range with respect to the total amount of the granular pet food, the odor of the pet food can be further reduced.
Further, the content of the kinako is preferably 2.0% by mass or less, more preferably 1.5% by mass or less, and more preferably 1.0% by mass or less based on the total amount of the granular pet food. Is more preferred. When the content of the kinako is less than or equal to the upper limit of the above preferable range with respect to the total amount of the powdery palatability improver, the odor of the pet food can be further reduced, and the palatability is not reduced.

The total amount of the powdery palatability enhancer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.20 to 3.0% by mass, more preferably 0.30 to 2.5% by mass, and more preferably 0.50 to 0.5% by mass based on the whole granular pet food. 2.0 mass% is more preferred.
Within the above preferable range, the odor of the pet food can be further reduced, and the palatability is not reduced.

≪Oil coating 脂
The granular pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention may further have a fat coating between the granules and the powder coating. By coating the particles with oil and fat and then coating with the powdery palatability enhancer, the adhesion between the particles and the powdery palatability enhancer is improved, and the odor of the pet food can be further reduced.

The fat or oil may be a liquid fat at normal temperature or a solid fat at normal temperature. In order to make the solid fat or oil into a liquid at normal temperature, it may be heated and used as necessary.
The fat may be vegetable fat or animal fat.
Only one kind of fat or oil may be used alone, or two or more kinds may be used in combination.

Specific examples of animal fats and oils include chicken oil, lard (lard), tallow (head), milk fat, and mixtures thereof.
Specific examples of vegetable fats and oils include olive oil, cocoa oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, coconut oil, tsubaki oil and the like.

  Among the above-mentioned fats and oils, it is preferable to contain animal fats and oils in that high palatability is easily obtained.

The content of fats and oils is preferably from 1.0 to 10% by mass, more preferably from 2.0 to 9.0% by mass, even more preferably from 3.0 to 8.0% by mass based on the total amount of the granular pet food.
When the content of the fat or oil is within the above range, the particles and the powdery palatability improver can be sufficiently adhered to each other.

≪Odor component≫
In the present specification, the odor component is a volatile component that can be extracted by a solid-phase microextraction method described in detail below, and is a component that gives a person discomfort.
In general, pet food contains various components, but the pet food itself is reduced by reducing at least the amount of volatilization of the odor component (2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene) derived from the raw material of the grains. Can reduce the smell and discomfort when feeding.

  The granular pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention has a odor component, as measured by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography / mass spectrometry described in detail below, in comparison with food particles, 2,4-dimethyl. It is preferable that the peak area value of -1-heptene is reduced.

  The means for reducing the volatilization amount of 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene is determined by the type, combination, shape, average particle diameter, and the like of the powdery palatability enhancer that coats the particles containing 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene. Methods for controlling specific surface area, coating amount, coating uniformity (coating method) and the like can be mentioned.

  The granular pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention aims to reduce the volatilization amount of the odor component (2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene) by using soybean powder as a powdery palatability improver. I have.

The granular pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention has a peak area of 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene when the odor component is measured by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography / mass spectrometry described in detail below. The value is preferably 100,000 or less.
If the peak area value of 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene is at least 100,000 or less when the odor component is measured by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography / mass spectrometry described in detail below, the smell of the pet food itself is smelled. And the discomfort at the time of feeding can be further reduced.

≪Odor component measurement method≫
The odor component of the granular pet food according to the first aspect of the present invention can be measured by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GCMS) under the following conditions.

[Method of separating and concentrating odor components]
First, using an SPME fiber and a volatile component extraction device, odor components are separated and concentrated by a solid phase microextraction method under the following conditions.
(Sample preparation)
1.0 g of a test pet food to be measured is weighed in a 20 mL vial for odor analysis, and a sample sealed with a lid with a septum is used as a sample.
(Solid phase micro extraction conditions)
・ SPME fiber: StableFlex 50/30 μm DVB / Carboxen / PDMS (manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich)
・ Volatile component extraction device: GERSTEL MPS2 (manufactured by GERSTEL)
・ Incubation temperature: 60 ° C
・ Incubation time: 10min
・ Agitating speed: 300 rpm / min
・ Extraction temperature: 60 ° C
・ Extraction time: 30 min
-Desorption time: 10 min

[Odor component measurement method]
Secondly, the odor component of the granular pet food obtained by the above-mentioned odor component separation / concentration method is measured by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry under the following conditions.

(Gas chromatography conditions)
-Measuring device: Agilent 7890N (manufactured by Agilent Technologies)
Column: DB-WAX UT (manufactured by Agilent Technologies), length 30 m, diameter 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm
-Injection method: splitless-Temperature condition: After holding at 40 ° C for 3 minutes, raise the temperature to 250 ° C at 10 ° C / minute and hold at 250 ° C for 10 minutes. ・ Carrier gas: He gas, gas flow rate 0.9 mL / min.
(Mass spectrometry conditions)
-Mass spectrometer: Agilent 5975C (Agilent Technology)
gies)
・ Ionization method: EI (ionization voltage 70 eV)
・ Ion source temperature: 230 ° C
Scan mass: m / z (27 to 500)

As described above, according to the granular pet food of the present invention, the particles containing the odor component are coated with the powdery palatability enhancer containing the soybean powder, thereby suppressing the volatilization of the odor component and reducing the pet food itself. Smell can be reduced, and discomfort when feeding can be reduced.
Furthermore, by using kinako as the soybean powder, it is possible to further reduce the smell of the pet food itself and to further reduce discomfort when feeding. The reason is not clear, but Kinako flours out of the smell peculiar to soybeans by heating and becomes a highly palatable scent.By heating, it becomes porous with a larger specific surface area and adsorbs more odorous components. It is presumed that the increased ease led to an improvement in the odor reduction effect of the pet food.

(Production method of granular pet food)
As a method for producing the granular pet food of the present invention, for example, a known method described below can be used.

[Granulation process]
The granulation step is a step of granulating the raw material mixture to obtain granules.
Examples of the granulation step include a method in which raw materials are mixed to form a raw material mixture, and the raw material mixture is formed into granules (granulation).
As the granulation step, specifically, a method of producing granules (expanded granules) using an extruder may be mentioned.
Methods for producing granules using an extruder are described, for example, in "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Fifth Edition" (Michael S. Hand, Craig D. Thatcher, Rebecca L. Remilliard, Philip Roudebusg, Bruce J. Novovry, Mov. Associates; 2014; p. 209-p. 215).

An example of a method for producing particles using an extruder will be described. First, the raw material of the particles is pulverized, if necessary, and then mixed. You may mix while grinding using a grinder etc. If necessary, water (volatilized during the manufacturing process and not finally included in the raw material composition) is added to obtain a raw material mixture.
The obtained raw material mixture is put into an extruder, heated and pressurized, and then extruded from an outlet. The outlet is provided with a plate having a hole of a predetermined shape, and a cutter for cutting the raw material mixture extruded from the plate into a predetermined length (thickness). The raw material mixture is extruded from the hole of the plate and cut into a predetermined shape by cutting with a cutter, and at the same time, the water vapor in the raw material mixture expands by being released from a pressurized state to a normal pressure. As a result, the raw material mixture expands, and porous particles are obtained.

[Drying process]
The drying step is a step of drying the granules obtained by the granulation step.
Known methods such as a method for drying the particles, a method for drying by blowing hot air, a method for drying under reduced pressure, and a method for drying by freeze drying may be used as the method for drying the granules. Among these drying methods, a method in which warm air is blown and dried is preferable from the viewpoint of improving the taste of pet food.

The temperature of the particles at the time of drying and the temperature of the hot air blown to the particles are not particularly limited. For example, the temperature of the hot air is preferably 150 ° C. or less. The lower limit of the temperature of the hot air is not particularly limited, and is usually higher than room temperature, and preferably 30 ° C. or higher. When drying in this temperature range, the time of the heat treatment is preferably 1 minute to 120 minutes.
When the temperature is not less than the lower limit of the temperature range and the time range, the particles can be dried in a relatively short time. When the temperature is equal to or lower than the upper limit of the temperature range, the particles are prevented from being excessively heated.

[Oil coating process]
The method for producing a granular pet food of the present invention may include a fat / oil coating step.
The oil / fat coating step is a step of coating the food granules obtained by the drying step with an oil / fat.
Examples of the method of coating food grains with fats and oils include, for example, a method of spraying fats and oils on food grains, a method of putting grains and fats and oils in a container such as a tank and stirring with a stirrer, a method of vibrating the container, and a vacuum coating method. Etc. can be used.

The vacuum coating method is a method of reducing the pressure in a state where heated granules and oils and fats are brought into contact or adhered. By using the vacuum coating method, fats and oils can be impregnated not only on the surface of the food particles but also inside the food particles.
The degree of reduced pressure in the vacuum coating method is not particularly limited. What is necessary is just to adjust suitably according to the magnitude | size and hardness of food granules, for example, the pressure is reduced to 0.1-0.3 atmospheres.

  The oil / fat coating step may be performed a plurality of times. For example, there is a method in which a part of fats and oils is added to the food granules obtained in the drying step, and the mixture is stirred or shaken, and then the remaining fats and oils are added again. By performing the oil / fat coating step in a plurality of times, it is possible to prevent the generation of fine powder from the dried particles (dusting).

  The temperature at which the fats and oils are introduced is not particularly limited as long as the fats and oils are not solidified. From the viewpoint of preventing oxidation of the fats and oils, the temperature is preferably as low as possible, for example, 40 to 80 ° C. .

[Powder coating process]
The powder coating step is a step of coating the food particles or the particles having an oil / fat coating obtained by the drying step with a powdery palatability improver.

  As a method of coating the particles with a powdery palatability enhancer, a method of stirring the particles and the powdery palatability enhancer in a container such as a tank and stirring with a stirrer, a method of vibrating the container, and the like. No.

  The temperature of the particles at the time of adhering the powdery palatability improver to the particles is preferably 35 to 75 ° C, more preferably 40 to 65 ° C, and still more preferably 45 to 55 ° C. In this case, the powdery palatability enhancer is preferably at 10 to 25C. When the temperature of the particles is in the above range, the coating amount (powder coating amount) of the powdery palatability enhancer attached to the particles tends to increase.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

<Example 1>
(Production of grains)
With the composition shown in Table 1, the raw materials of the particles constituting the granular pet food were mixed. The obtained raw material mixture was put into an extruder, and subjected to a heat treatment at about 115 ° C. for about 2 minutes while kneading, thereby pregelatinizing the starch component, and extruding into granules at the outlet of the extruder and expanding at the same time. The obtained granules were subjected to a drying treatment at about 135 ° C. for 15 minutes using a dryer to obtain food granules.

(Hood grain coating)
Animal fats and oils were coated on the surfaces of the food grains by adding and mixing 4.5% by weight of animal fats and oils to 93.7% by weight of the obtained food grains (about 45 ° C.). A part of the animal fat was infiltrated into the surface of the grain.
Next, by adding and mixing 0.6% by mass of kinako and 1.2% by mass of a meat-based palatability agent as a powdery palatability improver to food grains (about 45 ° C.) having an animal fat / oil coating, The surface of the food granules was coated with a powdery palatability enhancer.
By the above method, a granular pet food having the powder coating of Example 1 shown in Table 2 was produced.

<Examples 2, 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5>
In the same manner as in Example 1 above, granular pet foods having the powder coatings shown in Table 2 were produced.

[Evaluation of degree of odor reduction]
A questionnaire (20 monitors) was conducted in such a manner that 100 g of each of the granular pet foods of Examples 1 to 3 and 100 g of the granular pet food of Comparative Example 1 were smelled. The percentage of those who answered that the granular pet foods of Examples 1 to 3 had a lower odor than the granular pet food of Comparative Example 1 for the total number of answers to the question "things with a weak smell" It was calculated as a percentage (unit:%). Table 3 shows the results.

[Evaluation of odor preference]
A questionnaire (20 monitors) was carried out by smelling 100 g of each of the granular pet foods of Examples 1 and 2 and 100 g of the granular pet food of Comparative Examples 2 to 5. With respect to the total number of answers to the question “What I think smell is preferable”, the granular pet foods of Examples 1 and 2 are more preferable than the granular pet foods of Comparative Examples 2 to 5. The percentage of respondents was calculated as a percentage (unit:%). Table 4 shows the results.

[Evaluation of peak area value of odor component]
The odor components (2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene) of the granular pet food of Example 1 and the granular pet food of Comparative Example 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as “test pet food”) were respectively measured under the following conditions. It was measured by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS).

<Method of separating and concentrating odor components>
Using an SPME fiber and a volatile component extraction device, odor components are separated and concentrated by a solid phase microextraction method under the following conditions.

(Sample preparation)
1.0 g of each test pet food to be measured is weighed in a 20 mL vial for odor analysis, and the one sealed with a lid with a septum is used as a sample.
(Solid phase micro extraction conditions)
・ SPME fiber: StableFlex 50/30 μm DVB / Carboxen / PDMS (manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich)
・ Volatile component extraction device: GERSTEL MPS2 (manufactured by GERSTEL)
・ Incubation temperature: 60 ° C
・ Incubation time: 10min
・ Agitating speed: 300 rpm / min
・ Extraction temperature: 60 ° C
・ Extraction time: 30 min
-Desorption time: 3.0 min

<Method of measuring odor components>
Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, the peak area value of 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene in the granular pet food of Comparative Example 1 and 2,2 in the granular pet food of Example 1 were measured under the following conditions. The peak area value of 4-dimethyl-1-heptene is measured respectively. Table 5 shows the results.

(Gas chromatography conditions)
-Measuring device: Agilent 7890N (manufactured by Agilent Technologies)
Column: DB-WAX UT (manufactured by Agilent Technologies), length 30 m, diameter 0.25 mm, film thickness 0.25 μm
-Injection method: splitless-Temperature condition: After holding at 40 ° C for 3 minutes, raise the temperature to 250 ° C at 10 ° C / minute and hold at 250 ° C for 10 minutes. ・ Carrier gas: He gas, gas flow rate 0.9 mL / min.

(Mass spectrometry conditions)
-Mass spectrometer: Agilent 5975C (Agilent Technology)
gies)
・ Ionization method: EI (ionization voltage 70 eV)
・ Ion source temperature: 230 ° C
Scan mass: m / z (27 to 500)

As shown in Tables 3 and 4, it can be confirmed that the granular pet foods of the examples to which the present invention is applied have a smaller odor and are more preferable than the granular pet foods of Comparative Examples 1 to 5.
Further, as shown in Table 5, in the granular pet food of the example to which the present invention was applied, the peak area value of the odor component (2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene) was less than the detection limit value (less than 100,000). It can be confirmed that the volatilization of the odor component was suppressed.
On the other hand, the granular pet food of Comparative Example 1 has a high peak area value of the odor component (2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene), and it is not possible to reduce the odor by simply coating the food particles with powder. It can be confirmed that it cannot be done.
In addition, the peak of the odor component (2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene) was not confirmed in the powdery palatability improver (animal meat palatability agent) of Comparative Example 1.
From the above, it can be confirmed that the granular pet food of the example to which the present invention is applied reduces the smell of the pet food itself and reduces discomfort when feeding.

Claims (7)

Granules, a granular pet food having a powder coating covering the granules,
The powder coating contains a powdery palatability enhancer,
A granular pet food, wherein the powdery palatability enhancer contains soybean powder.   The granular pet food according to claim 1, wherein the soybean powder is kinako.   The powdery palatability enhancer comprises a powdery palatability enhancer other than kinako, and the average particle size of the kinako is larger than the average particle size of the powdery palatability improver other than kinako. 2. The granular pet food according to item 1.   The granular pet food according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the content of the kinako is 10% by mass or more based on the total amount of the powdery palatability enhancer.   The granular pet food according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the content of the kinako is 0.20% by mass or more based on the total amount of the granular pet food.   The granular pet food according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an oil coating between the granules and the powder coating. When the odor component of the granular pet food is measured by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography under the following analysis conditions,
The granular pet food according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the peak area value of 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene is 100,000 or less.
[Analysis conditions]
<Solid phase micro extraction conditions>
Fiber: SPME fiber coated with two layers having a 50-μm-thick divinylbenzene-dispersed polydimethylsiloxane layer on the outside and a 30-μm-thick Carboxen-dispersed polydimethylsiloxane layer on the inside Extraction conditions: Preheating at 60 ° C. for 10 minutes Thereafter, extraction of volatile components at 60 ° C. for 30 minutes <gas chromatography conditions>
Column: Capillary column coated with a liquid phase composed of polyethylene glycol at a thickness of 0.25 μm on the inner wall of the material, length 30 m, diameter 0.25 mm
Temperature condition: After maintaining at 40 ° C. for 3 minutes, the temperature was raised to 250 ° C. at 10 ° C./min, and maintained at 250 ° C. for 10 minutes. Carrier gas: He gas, gas flow rate 0.9 mL / min <Mass analysis conditions>
Apparatus: Quadrupole mass spectrometer Ionization method: EI (ionization voltage 70 eV)
Scan mass: m / z (27-500)